Dodgers: Penny allowed three home runs in six innings, yet qualified for a quality start and was in position to win a career-high 17th until the suddenly shaky bullpen gave away another win in the eighth inning. Penny was more effective with the bat, getting two hits, driving in a run and scoring another. He's 12-2 against the Rockies lifetime, and 2-0 this season.

Rockies: Jimenez bounced back Thursday after a shaky start in his previous outing against the Marlins when he lasted only three innings and gave up five runs -- two earned -- on five hits with four walks. Jimenez could not locate his pitches that day, but Thursday against the Dodgers his fastball command was back. While he didn't get his usual strikeouts -- he recorded only one on the day -- he held the Dodgers scoreless until the seventh inning when they scored three and he made his first mistake, leaving a fastball up to Andre Ethier, who knocked it out of the park. Even with his poor start against the Marlins, Jimenez has gone 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA over his last eight starts and helped keep the Rockies in the playoff hunt.

COMMENTS: The Rockies were a .500 team eight days ago, before rolling to sweeps over the hapless Dodgers and imploding Padres. Now they're the third horse in the wild-card race, one game out. Tonight, we have a chance to claw back into third place in the NL West, as well as spoil the Rockies' post-season hopes. Crap, as I type that last sentence I think about how pathetic the Dodgers' situation is. I need a drink.

And by the way, I don't exactly agree with you on the Angels thing...the YankMes and Red Sox disgust me too much. Any true dodgers fan who lived through the 70s and 80s would have to agree with hating the yankees, at least.

Grady Little pulls Penny for no reason after a short five innings and up 5-4. Lurch promptly comes in and gives up a two-run HR to give the Rockies the lead. YET ANOTHER WONDERFUL GRADY LITTLE PITCHING DECISION.

Finally someone on the Dodgers shows some mettle. Rocks get a two-out double, and Proctor greets Holliday with a beaning. At least someone is trying to show some backbone around here (besides the ever-crusty Jeff Kent).